What’s going on in Episode 2, Season 1 of ‘Sleepy Hollow: Blood Moon’?

Well, I’m hoping that all of you are checking out Sleepy Hollow on FOX. I’m seriously surprised by how much I enjoy the show and all of the insanity it brings to the historical tale brought into modern times. I’m sure you’ve all read the description of the series, so I won’t bore you with too much of that. I would like to entertain you with some of the high points of tonight’s episode. It is pretty crazy but in such a fun, entertaining, and yet dark way.

In this modern-day twist on Washington Irving’s classic, ICHABOD CRANE (Tom Mison, “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”) is resurrected and pulled two and a half centuries through time to unravel a mystery that dates all the way back to the founding fathers. Revived alongside Ichabod is the infamous Headless Horseman who is on a murderous rampage in present-day Sleepy Hollow. Ichabod quickly realizes that stopping Headless is just the beginning, as the resurrected rider is but the first of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and only one of the many formidable foes that Ichabod must face to protect not only Sleepy Hollow, but the world.

As Ichabod finds himself in 2013’s Sleepy Hollow, he discovers a town he no longer recognizes and grapples to understand. Teaming up with Lt. ABBIE MILLS (Nicole Beharie, “42,” “The Good Wife,” “Shame”), a young cop who has her own supernatural experiences, the two embark on a mission to stop the evil that has awoken along with Ichabod and that now is seeping into this once-sleepy town.

Clues from the past enlighten mysteries in the present, as each episode features a flashback to Ichabod’s life in 1776. Ripe with untold stories from American history and cloaked in mythology, the divide between present and past becomes dangerously blurred. Lives are in the balance, including that of Ichabod’s late wife, KATRINA (Katia Winter, “Dexter”), who is trapped in a mysterious netherworld. In his pursuit to save her, Ichabod uncovers secrets about her, leaving him with countless questions.

Ichabod’s extensive first-hand knowledge of our country’s hidden history, coupled with Abbie’s superior profiling and modern threat assessment skills, make them a formidable duo. The complex pasts of the pair, from Ichabod’s inclusion in the powerful and secretive Freemasons Society to Abbie’s childhood visions, will help them solve the intricate puzzles of Sleepy Hollow in order to protect its – and the world’s – future. As history repeats itself, the oddly-linked pair will draw on the real stories and secrets this nation was founded on in their quest to stop an increasingly vicious cycle of evil.

[SPOILERS] Just as an aside, but how can’t you love an updated tale of Ichabod Crane that includes a Headless Horseman who uses a pump action shotgun and a machine gun? Not to mention the Horseman himself takes on a whole new reality when it is revealed that he is one of the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

Add into that a creature that seems to be the devil, a spell casting priest, and Clancy Brown and you have an entertaining ride. Granted Clancy Brown dies off fairly quickly, but he does have a re-occurring role as a dream or something.

Well, that’s what you missed during the first episode, but let’s move on to tonight’s show.

While still adjusting to his 21st century reality, Ichabod and Abbie continue on their quest to clear up Sleepy Hollow’s mysteries. After a vision from Katrina, the two set out to look for a witch from the 1700s. The witch has been awakened and is intent on destroying Sleepy Hollow. Despite what happened to him, Andy Brooks is back and pursuing his own agenda.

The forces of darkness continue to rise and they all seem to be popping up in the sweet little town of Sleepy Hollow. The episode starts out with Ichabod having a vision/dream where his deceased wife is trying to warn him. Another supernatural entity is coming and Ichabod needs to be prepared. Well, it turns out that not one entity is being raised from the dead. Brooks, the police office whose neck was snapped back by the evil one, comes back to life to orchestrate the return of this witch who is searching a way to return to full life by killing others.

First off, I loved the way Brooks returned to life. The scene opens in the morgue and a body bag begins to thrash around. The bag falls to the floor and Brooks makes his appearance. His head is still bent so far back that he is looking 180 degrees in the wrong direction, pretty much exactly the way the evil one left Brooks in his cell (see picture on the right). Watching Brooks (played by John Cho) stumble around trying to see with his head on upside down and backwards was amusing and very disturbing. The evil entity intervenes which allows Brooks the opportunity to straighten his neck and act out and also gives Brooks the opportunity to serve the dark one once again. His new task is to bring the witch back to life and get her to her victims so she can become whole again.

Ichabod and Officer Abbie are hot on the trail after a burnt corpse is found in an SUV parked on the side of the road. Ichabod recognizes the injuries on the corpse and knows where they have to go to find the killer. When they find the witch, she tells Ichabod some information about his wife before Ichabod blows her up with a mound of old gunpowder sitting in a basement. Abbie is notably shaken up and has a dream sequence with the ghost of Clancy Brown. Ichabod disturbs her and brings her back to reality. We are introduced to Abbie’s sister in the mental ward and see that she has a disturbing visitation.

There was one point where I was a little disappointed. The show created an atmosphere of the hunt for evil, but the actual conflict between the witch and our heroes was relatively short-lived. There was too much build up with not enough of a climax to make it worthwhile.

For me, this show is an amazing amalgamation of legend, present time, darkness, comedy, and horror. I find myself lost in the show and really enjoying what the show is bringing to the screen. Tell me, are you enjoying Sleepy Hollow? Why and why not? What would you like to see on the show?

Dear Lytherus visitors: Our seven year journey as a fantasy and science fiction blog has come to a (hopefully temporary) end. As of September, we're entering an indefinite hiatus and are moving our operations over to Shurtugal.com, our sister site. There you'll be able to find familiar voices writing book reviews and reporting on the latest fandom news. We're not closing the door on Lytherus for good, as it's a project many of us would like to revisit in the future. For now, we encourage you to head over to Shurtugal.com to continue the adventure. Thanks for a wonderful seven years, and we hope to see you again soon!